Valdez Guide Passes in Heliskiing Incident

“A heliskiing guide from Valdez died Sunday in a backcountry incident near the Southeast Alaska community of Haines which also injured two clients, according to Alaska State Troopers.

AST spokesperson Megan Peters says 34-year-old Christian Arcadio Cabanilla was pronounced dead Sunday at the SEARHC clinic in Haines, where the clients were taken with life-threatening injuries.

“(Cabanilla) and two clients were traversing an area when the underlying snow gave way unexpectedly causing the skiers to fall,” troopers wrote in a Monday dispatch.

Skiers found Cabanilla unresponsive at the scene. Haines police initially responded to the incident outside town, with troopers being notified at about 1:13 p.m. Sunday.

“Everyone was already out there when we were notified,” Peters said.

Cabanilla’s body will be sent to the state medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.

Troopers are investigating the incident.”

Christian Cabanilla was well known throughout the Snowboarding Industry as a man who loved his job, and chased his passions snowboarding. Cabanila sat down with ESPN and shared his love for both worlds. You can read the interview HERE